Home > Richardson Insiders

Author Archives: Rebekah Meuir

About Rebekah Meuir

Rebekah Meuir is a native of the DFW Silicon Prairie. She is a 20 year startup veteran, and has contributed to the launch and growth of two healthcare software startups and a marketing startup. Rebekah has managed projects for small businesses and enterprise-class organizations, including hospital and university clinics. Her passion for effective communication combined with her ruthless pursuit of detail is only surpassed by her obsession with sustainable systems. Some of Rebekah’s favorite projects have been related to software development and implementation. She has a BA in American Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Richardson school crossing guard is all heart

Richard Dodson, School Crossing Guard in Richardson

Richard Dodson, a recent heart transplant recipient, is a school crossing guard in Richardson.

Every morning and every afternoon, I see Richard Dodson, the school crossing guard near Dover Elementary School.  I spent some time with him recently, before the after-school rush hit.

Richard is always smiling, and he genuinely cares about people. He said that working with the children each day keeps him young. He enjoys his work and added that he takes it very seriously. I could see his strong values demonstrated by his professionalism and in the care that he takes to ensure that everyone crosses the road safely. Richard is committed to doing a great job.

I heard him asking the children if they had a good day as they crossed the road behind his stop sign. He shared a laugh with them and a smile. He is all heart — not surprisingly — because he was the proud recipient of a heart transplant earlier this year.

Richard has been a crossing guard for seven years, after retiring from a 25-year career as a milk man. This is his first year in Richardson as a crossing guard.

The job is a paid position through the Richardson Police Department. I searched the city’s website, and found that there is a current job listing to hire four additional crossing guards in the city. Richard mentioned that the crossing guard job schedule is ideal for him, because it frees him up during the day to run errands and to take care of appointments in between his morning and afternoon shifts.

I asked Richard for his thoughts on the busy traffic at the intersection where he works. He shared that the people on cellphones while driving are the worst issue, followed by people who are distracted while looking in their rearview mirrors. Sometimes, he will give drivers a serious look, or even the “evil eye” when needed to remind them to slow down in the school zone.

Richard estimated that 150 children cross the road at his intersection each day. Around 3:10 p.m., I could see a large crowd of parents and children approaching his post. Everyone made it across the road with no issues, as they always do when Richard Dodson is on the job. Richard exemplifies his dedication to safety, along with his fun-loving and kind personality. What a treasure we have in Richard Dodson for our neighborhood.

Locally grown: A journey to gourmet delight in Richardson

Vegetables available from La Esperanza Farm

Bountiful vegetables available from La Esperanza Farm at Richardson's Four Seasons Market.

Author’s note: This blog post is a collaboration written by Richardson Insiders Carl Youngberg and Rebekah Meuir.

Richardson has a wonderful food resource that we might easily overlook without a careful stop and study. Our Four Seasons Farmer’s Market on Campbell Road across from the University of Texas at Dallas is such a place.

Open every Saturday, year-round, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., it has become a beehive of shopping activities. For some shoppers, it is an occasional venture for heritage tomatoes, beef jerky or a luscious dessert. For others, it has become a Saturday must-have destination for fresh vegetables, cheeses, desserts, novelty foods and even non-food craft items.

For years, fellow Insiders blogger Carl Youngberg dreamed of having our own market resource here in Richardson. He found himself often running to other cities for wonderful summer tomatoes and other comestibles. Now, it is easy and convenient to dash to the farmers market for something familiar and jump back on the bike or drive home. Carl and I set out on a noble quest: to shop the entire length of the market (which is getting bigger every week).

To frame our quest, our goal was to stock only the foods and provisions from the farmer’s market to fill our fantasy dinner table — and our stomachs. We succeeded beyond our dreams. And we encountered a bonanza of great people along the way. Each booth was a story of its own and a pleasure to visit.

Continue reading →

Here are details on mosquito spraying in east Richardson

West Nile spray map BowserBuckArapahoJupiter

Mosquito spraying area

I received an email alert that the city will spray for mosquitoes today (Thursday) and Friday. The city’s website mentioned that this is the first positive West Nile test result out of 215 mosquito samples collected in Richardson.

The spraying will begin at 9 p.m. and end by 4 a.m. You can sign up for email alerts concerning mosquito spraying and other news in Richardson using this link: Signup for News Updates.

Backyard chicken coops made in Richardson

I recently visited with two local Richardson families who raise backyard chickens. I found it extremely interesting to learn that both of their chicken coops were built right here in Richardson.

There is a local resident who builds chicken coops in West Richardson. The other family built their own coop out of recycled materials that they gathered from around the neighborhood.

I hope more families will raise backyard chickens in Richardson. We need some help to cut down on the grasshopper population around here.

Richardson backyard chicken scores 100 on school science project

West Richardson Backyard Chickens running around

Richardson Backyard Chickens

I recently met with a family in Richardson who told me the best stories about their backyard chickens.

Each year, the eldest son in the family uses their backyard chickens in his science project. This past school year, he scored 100 on the project. He experimented with their most intelligent chicken, Rose.

The experiment went as follows: Use different colored cups with a snack underneath them to determine which color cup that the chicken would prefer. Rose liked the purple cup the best.

I can’t wait to learn what new scientific discovery that Rose and the family will come up with for next year’s science experiment.

Richardson chicken hatches eggs adopted by family

Richardson Backyard Chicken Lucy and Adopted Chicks

Richardson Backyard Chicken Lucy and Adopted Chicks

I recently learned of a family in Richardson who adopted some eggs for their beautiful chicken, Lucy to hatch.

This was the most lovely chicken that I had ever seen. Lucy has some glorious gold-tipped feathers. She was such a natural mother to those chicks. I don’t think she knew that they were adopted at all.

In general, the city of Richardson allows its residents to keep chickens, as long as the conditions are clean with no offensive odors or excessive noise.  Chickens and supplies can be purchased at Gecko Hardware in Lakewood, or Wells Brothers Feed Store in Plano.

I first learned about Lucy and her adopted chicks at a Facebook group called Richardson Backyard Chickens.  Maybe Richardson should consider a Backyard Chicken tour, similar to the Urban Chicken Coop Tour in Lakewood last month.

Many thanks to Lisa Williams for the backyard chicken tour, and for all of the great information she shared with me about raising chickens.

 

A Richardson resident asks: When is a bird’s nest not a nest?

Bird's Nest Fungi

Bird's nest fungi

I grew up in rural Collin County, about 30 miles from Richardson. I never thought that I would find things growing in Dallas county that I had never seen before. Since I moved to Richardson, I have learned about new insects, plants, and fungi. I was so happy to find out that something that I originally thought to be an insect nest in my Richardson back yard turned out to be harmless.

I was pulling weeds, and I noticed a hard strange area in the cedar mulch. I had accidentally stepped on the thing, which I assumed was some sort of insect nest. I was not able to take it out by hand. It felt like it was cemented onto the ground.

My partner dug it out using a shovel, and broke the nest into two parts. It was bigger than both of my hands together. I was convinced that some invading insects had hatched out of it. I worried about termites; however, the nest felt more like the paper wasps’ nests that I have seen. I was hesitant to open up the chambers in the nest that were still covered.

Nidulariaceae - Bird's nest fungi

My Facebook friends warned me about deadly insects that might have come out of that nest. Their guesses ranged from assassin bugs to wasps, and more. Finally, some helpful friends from an organic gardening group on Facebook identified the nest as bird’s nest fungus.

If you look closely, you can see the little black “seeds” that are in some of the nests. This is partly how the fungus gets its name, because the little seeds resemble tiny eggs.

I have read that there are certain types of rare fungi that only grow around here. This website has details to help identify different variations of bird’s nest fungus. You never know what exciting and interesting things you will learn about in your own back yard. There are many things growing in my back yard that I have not identified yet.

 

Will AT&T GigaPower be coming to Richardson?

I am very excited to see the news about GigaPower from AT&T coming to certain cities in and around Dallas. I am most hopeful about a particular line in the FAQ that asks: “What if I’m a city leader and I want to discuss the opportunity of AT&T U-verse with GigaPower in my city?” And then, there is a link for RIchardson’s city leaders to use to notify AT&T that we would like faster internet (speeds up to 1 gigabit per second!)

Austin is enjoying this fiber internet.  Other cities that are slated for the new fiber internet service are in Tarrant County. Allen, Fairview, Irving, and McKinney are also planned for the fiber internet service, eventually.

I have tried both Time Warner Cable’s Internet service and U-verse.  I pay around $75 per month for just internet.  I would happily pay that for the GigaPower plan.  There is no indication of what the pricing will be on the FAQ from AT&T.

I hope everyone urges the Richardson city leaders to email AT&T about getting GigaPower in Richardson.

Two tasty reasons to visit the Richardson Farmer’s Market

I recently spent two Saturday mornings visiting with local Richardson vendors at the Four Seasons Market in Richardson. You will find plenty of parking at the market, and you can meet loads of interesting and friendly local businesses. Get there early, because some of the best baked goods available at the market go fast.

Susan Reyes of Fall Creek Bakery in Richardson at the Four Seasons Market.

The Four Seasons Market is a local Farmer’s Market that is at 677 W. Campbell Road.  The Market is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The market has a great website, which lists the vendors that will be there each week.

Susan Reyes from Fall Creek Bakery was there presenting her wonderful breads, cakes, pastries and other desserts the first time I visited the market. Susan showed me the scrumptious baked goods that she had made for us to sample and to take home from her local Richardson-based bakery. Hand-crafted and wholesome baked goods are not easy to find.  I was excited to learn that Richardson has an amazing local baker. Visit Fall Creek Bakery’s website at www.FallCreekBakery.net.

During my second visit to the Four Seasons Market, I chatted with Tori Kormanik and D’Ann Wright of Burnin’ Beak.  Burnin’ Beak is a local Richardson- and Long Beach, Calif.- based maker of delicious mild and spicy habanero marmalades. The ladies of Burnin’ Beak also made fun and interesting recipe cards, along with free samples of the brightly colored yummy marmalade.  I learned a lot about peppers from Tori and D’Ann. Their enthusiasm about Burnin’ Beak is as refreshing as their marmalade. Visit Burnin’ Beak’s website at www.burninbeak.com.

These local businesses represent only two reasons to check out the unique bargains at the Four Seasons Market.  For example, I also met some ladies selling beaded jewelry and accessories from Kenya.

Richardson-made smoked beef jerky was available to sample and purchase on both Saturdays. An area beekeeper was there with many varieties of honey and beeswax for sale.  Two vendors were selling art made from painted stones and rocks.

Plenty of food, jewelry, and essential items for your home, garden, or business can be found each Saturday at our local Richardson Farmer’s Market.

 

Take a book, share a book at your nearest Little Free Library

Did you know that Richardson has three Little Free Libraries?

I recently learned about the free neighborhood libraries when one was installed near my home. The concept is explained on the Little Free Library website. Free books for all age groups are available for anyone to share.  Anyone can bring books to donate to the library.  Once you take a book to enjoy, you can either bring it back or share it elsewhere. There is a worldwide map of the Little Free Libraries on the official Little Free Library website.

Little Free Library #8962 at 806 Dumont Drive

Little Free Library #8962 at 806 Dumont Drive

The Little Free Library at 806 Dumont Drive is the first one that I visited.  It even has a Facebook group page.  Sometimes, when I visit the library, the library stewards are available to say hello. People are frequently visiting the library to share and enjoy books and magazines. Richardson’s first Little Free Library is not yet listed on the official littlefreelibrary.org website, but it has been submitted and should be listed soon.

Little Free Library #9630 at 387 Bedford Drive

Little Free Library #9630 at 387 Bedford Drive

The Little Free Library at 387 Bedford Drive also had a great selection of books available. The lovely neighborhood is nice and quiet with plenty of shade.

Little Free Library #8067 at 1811 Park Meadow Lane

Little Free Library #8067 at 1811 Park Meadow Lane

When I visited the Little Free Library at 1811 Park Meadow Lane, library stewards Ellen and Dave Allen were available to speak with me.  I enjoyed meeting them and learning more about the library.  There were plenty of  books to enjoy in this beautiful and welcoming neighborhood library.

Next time you are ready to share some of your extra books, please consider donating them to the Little Free Library near your neighborhood.  Richardson could probably use a few more Little Free Libraries, too.

White Rock neighborsgo: Little Free Libraries bring stories, togetherness into East Dallas neighborhoods (Oct. 17, 2013)